chaf. xi.] A COLD RECEPTION. 259 



At length, about an hour after noon, we reached our 

 destination — the village of Coupang, situated nearly in the 

 centre of the island — and entered the outer court of a 

 house belonging to one of the chiefs with whom my friend 

 Mr. Ross had a slight acquaintance. Here we were re- 

 quested to seat ourselves under an open shed with a raised 

 Moor of bamboo, a place used to receive visitors and hold 

 audiences. Turning our horses to graze on the luxuriant 

 grass of the courtyard, we waited till the great man's Malay 

 interpreter appeared, who inquired our business and in- 

 formed us that the Pumbuckle (chief) was at the Rajah's 

 house, but would soon be back. As we had not yet break- 

 fasted, we begged he would get us something to eat, which 

 he promised to do as soon as possible. It was however 

 about two hours before anything appeared, when a small 

 tray was brought containing two saucers of rice, four small 

 fried fish, and a few vegetables. Having made as good a 

 breakfast as we could, we strolled about the village, and 

 returning, amused ourselves by conversation with a number 

 of men and boys who gathered round us ; and by exchang- 

 ing glances and smiles with a number of women and girls 

 who peeped at us through half-opened doors and other 

 crevices. Two little boys named Mousa and Isa (Moses 

 and Jesus) were great friends with us, and an impudent 

 little rascal called Kachang (a bean) made us all laugh by 

 his mimicry and antics. 



S2 



